Spring-gear for vehicles



A(Np Model.) i l 2 sn .eets.s1 ;e1;'1. J. A. CHAP-MAN.

SEEING GEAR EUR. VEHICLES. No. 392,184. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

(No Model.) f asheets-sheet 2, J. A; CHAPMAN.

SPRING GEAR POR VEHICLES.l

No. 392 184. lPa'ellted Novf, 1888.

' 1jr/7117' 6" v Fig/) NITED STATES PATENT irren.

JOHN A. CHAPMAN, OF MILWAUKEE, MTISCONSIN.

ySPRING-GEAR FoR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,184-, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed May 15, 1886. Serial No. 202,241. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern:

`Be it known that I, JOHN A. CHAPMAN, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make andv use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists, essentially, of a novel arrangement of the springs, of peculiarities in the construction and arrangement of the cou plings by which the springsare secured to the axles, of novel means for fastening the reach to the axles, ofa new fth-wheel, and a novel method of -mounting the forward bolster thereon, and of certain other details, hereinafter fully described.

ln the accompanying drawings like letters refer to the saine or similar parts in the several figures.

Figure l is a plan view of a vehicle-gear einbodying my improvements, slightly modified forins of the spring-couplings being shown at the opposite ends of the axles. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation; Fig. 4, a front elevation. Fig. 5 is aside elevation showing modifications of the construction illustrated in Fig. 2. Figs. (i, 7, and 8 show, respectively, on a greatly-enlarged scale, a side and end elevation and a plan View of the forward spring and axle coupling shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view, partly in front elevation and partly in vertical me- .dial section, of the forward spring-clip, fifthwheel, and bolster-support. Fig. 10 is an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the modification of the forward 'spring and axle coupling shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 1l is an enlarged side elevation of the rear spring and axle coupling shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 12 is a like view of the modification thereof shown inFig. 5.

The gear illustrated in-the drawings, with slight modifications, is suitable for light or heavy wagons, buggies, carriages,

A A' represent, respectively, the front and rear axles; C C, the forward springs, of the usual semi-elliptic or double sweep form, are placed one on each side of the axle A, and suspended at the ends by shackles or spring-links L L from the head-plates N N, secured to the top of the axle by axle-clips or axle-yokes M, and bolts m m, as shown more clearly in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

The plates N N, preferably made of malleable iron, are formed open in the center and with two cylindrical heads, a n, projecting transversely to thevaxle on each side thereof, as seen in Figs. 6 and 8. The heads n a are perforated transversely to said axle in thesame axial line to receive the bolts a' n', by which the shackles or spring-links L L are secured thereto.

I prefer to form the heads an with trnnnions or conical projections Z, which are adapted to similar sockets in the spring-links L, about the upper bolt-holes therein, so as to relieve the bolts a u of strain, to insure close fitting joints between said headplates and links, and thereby prevent wear and rattling, bolts c c passing through the lower perforated ends ot' each pairof links L L, and the interposed head of this spring secures the latter to the headplates. dependently of each otherI to the head-plates N it is not essential that the springs should be exactly of the same length, and thereby saves care and laborin making and tting the parts and greater vexation in putting them together.

The modification shown in Figs. 1, 4., 5, and 10 of the front spring and axle coupling being lighter is better adapted forsmallerand lighter vehicles. The plate N', attached to the top of the axle,like the plate N, previously described, is formed with a single head, the ends of which project slightly at each side of said axle, and is perforated transversely thereto to receive the bolt ai, Fig. 10.

rIhe spring-links L' L', formed with conical recesses about their upper bolt-holes to receive the conical projections formed on head-plate N', are secured thereto-one on each side of the axle-by a single bolt, at, and are curved outwardly to receive between their lower ends the two springs G C. A single bolt, c?, reduced at the ends, passes through the eyes in the heads of said springs and the lower perforations in the links L', and receives at each end outside By thus securing the springs C G in- ICO of the adjacent link a nut, c3. lVhen used as shown in the drawings with the front axle, A, I provide the head-plates N' N with perforated ears ff, which form shaft-couplings integral with said head-plates.

D D' represent, respectively, the upper and lower sections of the fifth-wheel secured together by the bolt e passing through a central perforation in each, and provided upon their contiguous faces with annular tongues and grooves, by which they are retained in place and the central bolt, e, relieved of strain, Fig. 9. The lower section, D', rests upon and is adapted and secured to each of the springs C C by spring clips or yokes G G and bolts gg, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 4, 5, and 9. The upper section is formed on its upper face with two perforated ears, d d, between which is pivotcd the oscillating bolster E upon the bolt a, as seen in Fig. 4. A single half-elliptic spring, C', employed at the rear end of the vehicle, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, is mounted above the rear axle, A', and is shackled thereto by means of yokes P, secured to the underside of the axle by clips p p, spring-links O, and bolts c4 and 0. The links O are secured to the axle at their lower ends by bolts o passing through perforations therein, and a recess in yoke P, and risc one on each side sufficiently above the axle to support the end of said spring above and clear of it. The bolt c* passes through the upper perforations in said links and the interposed head of the spring, which is thus secured at each end. In place of the links O O and bolt o, an integral U-shaped link may be used. The lateral movement or swing of the links O O, permitting the free expansion and contraction of the spring, is limited by the shoulders u u, formed on yokes P. In Fig. 12, illustrating a slight modification of the construction shown in Fig. ll, the springloop O' is formed of bandiron, or has its horizontal section connecting the upright limbs iiattened, and is supported in a recess formed therefor in the yoke P', which is secured, like the yoke P, before described, to the under side of axle A' by clips p'p'.

The recess in yoke P is made of sufficient depth to permit the liattened part of loop O' to turn slightly therein and to allow the desired swing or lateral movement of said loop and the free expansion of the spring.

To prevent wear and rattling of the parts, I interpose between the under side of loop O and yoke P',in a recess formed therefor,a rubber or cushion, t, as seenin Fig. l2. The flattened part of loop O' and the corresponding recess in yoke P', in which it rests, serve to limit, like the shoulders uit shown in Fig. Il, the movement of said loop.

B represents the reach detachabl y pivoted to the center of the front axle, A, and detachably secured to the center of the rear axle, A', as shown in Fig. 3. Stay-braces b b,attaehed to said reach B at their front ends, as seen in Fig. l, diverge toward the rear and are detachably secured to the rear axle,A', by means of ears K K, formed on the yokes P P' of the rear spring-couplings. The ears K K are provided on their inner faces with conical projections k2 k2,adapted to similar sockets formed in the heads b2 of braces I), which are secured thereto by bolts 7c 7c, as seen in Figs. 11 and 12. By thus constructing the fastenings of the braces b b a close fit is insured and rattling prevented, and the reach may be readily detached and the gear compact] y bundled or crated for shipment.

It is obvious that the springs herein shown may be variously arranged to suit the requirements of different vehicles. The spring herein shown at the rear may be used both in frontvand rear, or the double spring may be similarly used, or the arrangement herein shown reversed.

I claiml. The combination, with the forward axle of a vehicle, of two half-elliptic springs con-` nected at the ends with said axles,one on each side of the same and parallel therewith,a yokeplate attached to the upper side of said springs and connecting them at the center, a circleplate supported upon said yoke and secured thereto at the center by a short pivot-bolt,and a bolster having a jointed connection at the center with said cirele-plate, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with a vehicle-axle, of spring-loops hinged thereto and projecting upwardly above the same, a spring connected at the ends with the upwardly-projecting ends of said loops above said axle, and stops limiting the vibration of said loops, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with the axle A, of yokes P P, secured thereto, loops O O, sup ported in said yokes, spring C', connected at the ends with said loops and supported thereby over said axle, and stops formed on said yoke and arranged to limit the oscillation of said loops, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination of the axles A A', ears K K, provided with conical projections k k" and secured to axle A', reach B, stay-braces b b, secured thereto and having heads b2 b2, recessed to receive said conical projections, and bolts k le, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, with the axle A', of yokes P P, secured to the under side thereof, loops O O, and spring C', connected at its ends with said loops and supported thereby above said axle, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. CHAPMAN.

Witnesses:

Guns. L. Goss, JOHN A. Goss.

ICO

IIO

IZO 

